Melbourne had finished three wins behind Geelong on the ladder, but had won the last meeting between the sides. They went in with a full squad while the visitors were without two of their best players - away on business and injured.

The chance of an upset increased even further when Melbourne won the toss and kicked with a gale force wind in the first quarter. They spurned several chances but still opened up a comfortable lead at the first break, then managed to kick two goals into the wind during the second from their only two chances. The cause had been helped by Geelong missing several easy shots.

The Pivotonians defended strongly in the third quarter and restricted the opposition to one goal but failed to score themselves and went into the last quarter three goals behind only for the wind to drop off completely and leave them without an advantage.